IV.

Preface

The actual growth of chemical knowledge proceeds from ParacelsusPhilippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (1493–1541), a Swiss physician and alchemist who pioneered the use of chemicals and minerals in medicine. *) up to BecherJohann Joachim Becher (1635–1682), a German chemist and physician known for his development of the theory that would become the phlogiston theory. and StahlGeorg Ernst Stahl (1659–1734), the chemist who formalized the phlogiston theory, which suggested a fire-like element was contained within combustible bodies., and from them once again to the great discoverers of artificial types of airoriginal: "erkünstelter Luftarten." In the 18th century, "airs" was the term used for what we now call gases (e.g., oxygen was "dephlogisticated air"). and the expanders of salt chemistryThe branch of chemistry concerned with the composition and reactions of acids, bases, and salts.: Macbride, Priestley, Ulrici, Marggraf, Macquer, Lavoisier, and many others.

Chemistry was first taught publicly only at the end of the 16th century. The first textbook was written by LibaviusAndreas Libavius (c. 1555–1616), whose work "Alchymia" is considered the first systematic textbook of chemistry., Frankfurt 1597, in quarto formatoriginal: "4.", a book size where sheets are folded twice to form four leaves., and expanded in 1606 in folio formatA large book size where sheets are folded only once.. In 1780, I possessed all of his chemical writings in my library. Being ignorant in the various branches of medicine, many chemists administered doses without proper judgment, and thereby frequently caused tragic consequences for the sick.

Translated by Christian Wiegleb, with additions. Berlin and Stettin, 1792. Large octavo formatoriginal: "gr. 8.", a book size roughly 8 to 10 inches tall..

*) I shall say more about this in my treatise on his life and writings.